Finding Strength in God’s Promises – Gideon’s Story Continued.

The story of Gideon reminds us that finding strength in God is vital. He can take what we have to offer and do marvelous things!

Gideon – The Wrong Man?

When God chose Gideon to defeat the Midianites, Gideon thought God had the wrong man:

‘Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.’ And the Lord said to him, ‘But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.’” (Judges 6:15-16)

The smallest tribe? The least family? The youngest brother? Perfect! Here is a man that God can use without him boasting! God loves to use those who can’t to accomplish what he can.

God Uses Our Weaknesses

He used Abram, a pagan from Ur of the Chaldeans, way too old to become a father, to be father of the Jews and the faithful.  He renames him “Abraham”, “father of a multitude”.

God comes to a rascal and a con man named Jacob, whose name means “heel-grabber” and calls him Israel, one who “grabs”, the one who clings, firmly to God.

He used Joseph, a slave and a prisoner, to save the world.

He used Moses, a murderer and a doubter, to lead two million from Egypt to the promised land.

He used an unnamed servant girl to point Naaman to a cure for leprosy.

He used Esther, an insignificant orphan among twenty million Jews, to deliver all twenty million.

He used Matthew, a tax collector hated by fellow Jews, to write about the King of the Jews.

He used Saul of Tarsus, who hounded Christians to jail and death, to write over half the Christian New Testament.

He came to an unstable, over-eager man named Peter and calls him a Rock.

He used David, the last and least of eight sons, to go up against a giant whose coat may have weighed more than David. 

The Surprising Story of Gideon

Just as surprising is the story of Gideon: When Israel was crying out for a deliverer, God’s answer was Gideon! He is the complete opposite of another judge of Israel, Samson. Gideon was too weak to be of any use and Samson was too strong to be of any use. Gideon believed he could accomplish nothing, and Samson believed he could accomplish anything.

Judges 6:14 

“And the Lord turned to him and said.  ‘Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?’” 

“This might of yours” – God doesn’t mean his own natural, human strength. That was only strong enough to beat wheat, in hiding. This strength from God is described in the surrounding verses:

“The Lord is with you.” (Judges 6:12)

“Do not I send you?” (Judges 6:14)

“I will be with you.” (Judges 6:16)

Relying on our own strength usually leads to two bad results: Discouragement when it fails or, even worse, pride that our own strength is working just fine.

Turning to God for Strength

Over and over again in the Bible and stories of heroic Christians, you find Gideon’s reaction: When God calls them to step up to a more challenging task, the most common response is, “I am not ready. I can’t do it. It is beyond my ability.”

I think that is a good reaction if it causes me to turn to God for strength. It is a bad reaction if it causes me to turn away from the assignment God has for me. The apostle Paul gives us the balance in 2 Corinthians 3:5 –

“Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God.”

Do you trust God with your life? Is Jesus your Redeemer? Share with us. Contact us at HopeStreamRadio,  or comment below.